Lindstrom joins roundtable discussion with Education Secretary DeVos

Each fall the Office of Non-Public Education (ONPE) within the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) holds a conference per invitation only for leaders of independent schools and educational organizations within the U.S. and its unincorporated territories. Since taking over as Head of Wakefield Country Day School in 2012, Jessica Lindstrom has been invited to attend the National Private School Leadership Conference each year.

This year she received a special invitation to join eleven other leaders of independent schools from across the country prior to the conference for an hour-long, roundtable discussion with Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos.

Lindstrom found the discussion stimulating and reported that Secretary DeVos was especially interested in the collaborative leadership efforts Lindstrom described that occur with the public and independent schools in Rappahannock County.

For the past three years, the area private schools have pooled their Title II money, DOE funds to state agencies to prepare, train, and recruit high quality teachers and principals, with Rappahannock public schools in order to allow all teachers in the district schools — both public and private — to take advantage of professional development opportunities offered through Lord Fairfax Community College.

“It was an honor to be sitting at the table with Secretary DeVos and sensing that we were really being heard,” Lindstrom stated. “The networking with other schools nationwide during the conference was also invaluable.”

RCHS TO RCES

In support of October Bullying Prevention Month, the Rappahannock County High School peer mentors visited the Rappahannock County Elementary School students during the week of Oct. 15-19 to promote social interaction and teambuilding skills.

The students shared lunch and engaged in a variety of fun games and activities.

A CHAPTER A DAY

The One School, One Book event kicked off at Rappahannock County Elementary School on October 22.

During a brief assembly, Ms. Wayland, RCES librarian, unveiled the selected book to the audience of anxious students. This year’s book is “The Lemonade War” by Jacqueline Davies. The assembly concluded with a short skit from the book performed by students McKenna Torosian, Beth Barron, Sam Per Dieu, and Nathan Shank.

Throughout the remainder of the month, the teachers will read aloud to the students a chapter each day. This school-wide promotional program focuses on literacy and helps to increase excitement about reading. In addition to reading and discussing the book, a variety of projects will coincide with the readings.

BY LILO WOLFE LEOS AND LIONS CLEAN UP COUNTY | The Lions Club recently teamed with the Rappahannock County Public Schools’ Leos Club on a road cleanup service project near the high school. Leo Club members (from left) are Alec Petty, Brooke Meade, Taven Murrah, Kayla Compton, Amanda Puskar, Grant PerDieu, Serenity Cortez, Donavan Zook, Lauren Petty, Sklar Culbertson, and Virginia Reinbolt; while Lions Club Members (from left) are Ed Dorsey, Larry Grove, Ross O’Donoghue, and Gary Giebel (Rudy Segaar, not pictured).

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PHOTOS Head of Wakefield Country Day School, Jessica Lindstrom, is seated at the head of the table as she listens to a colleague during a roundtable discussion with Education Secretary Betsy DeVos prior to the National Private School Leadership Conference at the Department of Education’s headquarters in Washington, D.C. Twelve school leaders, including Lindstrom (blue dress to the right), along with senior staff of the department, pose with Education Secretary Betsy DeVos after their roundtable discussion.

BY HOLLY JENKINS RCES Librarian Ms. Wayland is spending October reading a chapter a day to students.